Apparatus for declustering fruit



Aug. 14, 1945.

B. C. COONS APPARATUS FOR DECLUSTERING FRUIT 6 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Nov. l, 1940 Aug. 14, 1945. B. C. cooNs 2,382,134

APPARATUS FQR DECLUSTERING FRUIT Filed Nov. 1, 1940 6 Sheets- Sheet 2 /l o o -A/ o l O n O /f Y O o Q O o v s o Q l\ 0 O D 0 ATTORNEY Allg..l 14, 1945. B c COONS APPARATUS FOR DECLUSTERING FRUIT Filed Nov. l, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 www www w c Y ce TN mu N0 wr n www. a@

mi Wmv Aug- 14 1945- B. c. cooNs 2,382,134

' Y APPARATUS FOR DECLUSTERING FRUIT Filed Nov. 1,l 1940 Y eneets-sheewimk INVENTOR BURTON C. Cao/v5 f Arr RNE? Aug. 14, 1945. a c, CQONS 2,382,134

APPARATUS FOR DECLUSTERING FRUIT Filed Nov. 1, 1940 6 sheets-sheet 5 INVENToR BURTON C. Coo/v5 Aug. 14, 1945. B. c. cooNs v 2,382,134

APPARATUS FOR DECLUSTERING FRUIT Filed Nov. 1, 1940 e sheets-sheet 6 97x 92 7 E; $3/ /0/ 6 7 zz/ 88 2l/ 9] 08 206 96 2 as 36 8938 /.9Z 9 07. 49 z 38 V l 48 @a 1 f Z/ 7 4 Z/ 5.9 47 59 2.2/ 472.?, 2 f /04 Z4 O O /o A Z/ 22 L9 46 lNvENToR 47 FIB 1:2 BURTON C- @am ATTORN EY Patented Aug. 14, 1945 diemen Nqvlnbet 1, 1940.

' s1, @eine wlw-Sii .The present yinvention relates to -a method and apparatus for declustering cherries or thejiike preparatory to stemming, pitting; canning or any othertreatmentof thesame'."

'Another object is to" provide a. machine for separating 'cherries joined by theinstem's 1in clusters into 'individual cherries without -remov the following 'taken 'in' connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: f 'j Fig'. 1 is a 'slide view'of vLhe'inachiile `(Ji-Ifile present ini/emision and ,a cherry pitting machine inconneciiionwith which it maybe FigfZis'pla'ieW l." f

Fig. 3' is 'a perspective'view of `a the'rnachine sh'owxiin Fig. ,1; i

Figli illustrates a Alongitudinaly Vsection yof a portion of the' machineygthe view taken aiongiines l-J-l ofP'i'gfL; i u Fig; 5 is perspective View of `a Aholding *n s Y .l -n 'Y "Fl'gIS is arlongitudinal section of the bucket 0fFig.5. Fig.' 7 snows e portion o f F4:.,.illustrating 4certain phases in the 'operation 0f. the machine.'

"Figi ,8 is an' .enlarged cross jsecion'of "the declusterbar.' Fig, i! shows a transverse of the hopper' of "the machine. the vview being Laken alonglin'es-Q ofZFig. .1. 1 Fig. L0 is a section of Fig. 4 taken along lines lli-' ili'thereof" 'Fie 11 illustrates a `tide View cfa portion of the machineshowing `Avpziznaril" the actuating mcciia'nism for the control vgates of the fruit 'receiving cups.

Fig. 12'is 'a `detail view partially :in vsection .and pariiaily in 'elevation'bf the Simile nlat'es'and one of' thespcerxbars' associated ",thercwithi y Fig. '13"is' al `perspective "viewof rfruit' -re- Tyra: '-H.

ignition 'of Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a portion of 55 Vserial No. 363,814

machine showing `.ztheconstruction' of the steml guidesthereof,u f f y Referring now to thev drawings, and especially to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, I designates the *fra-mestruat'ure vof the machine "which"consists ora iofwer frame 'porticnl 2 `'and anaxpper frame Partien 3.

frame finernbrs' i ndM '5" :secured 'to' the'v lowerl frame structure 2'in"any`convenient' manner arranged in'substantiaiiy verticali pbsitionyas will beseeirfroin Fg'srl .'afnd3. Attachedto'the upper 'ends' of' the 'irame rirembers` and '5 are horizontaily extending frame'memfhers and*y il,

respectsielya "A .'-.i. m e i... j.

iiviouni-rlv within ybearings nn the trame A:strnctufrle rl'aretransvers'e rshaitts 1! 'and lil -im!! Simi shafts 11;."'Eachione'ofthe trans-'verse 3 and l1! carriesaf'pair'ofzsprodiewheeirilzyi, and 15," respectively. These s'mockct wheels are ke'zled'to their shafts for rotation'iiheie'with are positioned within `the frnmistructurle'l 'ida jacent the sides cf the same (see FigszZiand 10i.. Thetstid shaftsdl are-provided with sprocket wheels' i 9 freely rotatablefthereon .and'posiioned in 'ligrinentwitli the sprocketwhecis MJ' i5 ,and I6 above referred to. 'rirainedarosmdlhesmvqket wheels'=14; 15,115" andfiarc 'endless chainsZl and-223 f 'Mr' "'fOn'e end *of-'shaft I .extends exterior'of. che frame structur 0i' the mmzhineT and"can:ies--a bevel -gr 4l; 'xedi" thereto which ntermeshes with ai'bfvei gear"26 keyedtos'l shatllrta'tahl mon'td within a bearing-28 inthe Vvlower frame structure .2rof' the machine." The shaft 1.251 carries a; 'sprckethwheeifnkeyed thereto which is drivenby means 'of anl .endless'fsprocket' chain 31 "trained around` s'pro'olnei;Y Ehcel- .2.9. and a sprocket wheelr 32 offs,"vari-abiesneedy control mechanism -34 :operatively infereonneeted wich asourcefof powe'prefcrabiynn electric motor 35`-(see"`Fig. i); iUpon operation ofthe 35,"s`haft and Sprocket U agre-rptatei in theV direction-as indicated gby arrowcuin Fig.V 4, so as to cause a. travel of the spx'iodet cha-ins 2 1 and.1 2.2 aroundgtiie sprocket ?bel `al i 15; if and ls the direetionvfarrw! Secured to cheY sprocket chains!!! .and 1g are transverse bars 31, each providedyitn a D llllity of fruit holding andysiipporting members' .1,8 arranged-in series-and .wlthlrlespect tfo each 'other (See ,2) TAllifgiich 0I fruit holding and supporting jmeinbersconsists 'Aoi ya fruit receivingfpucket eas gsee ,ci fpiovi'ied .with a iiange 40, -bvwhinmq ,are .connected manner, and a guide portion 4I interconnecting the flange with the fruit receiving bucket so that guide slots 42 are formed therebetween. The buckets 39 include a dished portion 43, a stem receiving recess 44, and an inclined rim surf face 45.

Interposed between the frame members 4 and 5.and extending ,longitudinally thereof substantially over theentire length o f the same is a. bucket guide structure 46 (see Figs. 3, 10 and 12) which consists of parallel guide plates 41 and 48 f,

arranged in spaced relationship with respect to each other. The guide plates'48,vr which Vare positioned adjacent the frame members 4 ,and `5, are provided with a flange 49 and are secured to the frame members 4 and 5 by 'means' of bolts 5|.

These outer guide plates '48 carry spacer bars 52 and 53 secured thereto in spaced relationY by means of bolts 54 and spacer sleeves 58 (see. The guide plates 41 are supported inv therebetween andv extend parallel to `the portions 60 vof theV sprocket chains 2| Vand 22 betweenthesprocket wheels I4 and I5. The guide plates 48 and 41 arepositioned within the path of'travel of'the' fruit supporting members 38,y so that the-.sides of thev guide plates enter into the guide'slotsr 42 of the'members 38-and the guide portions '4| travelinthe guide slots 59 between cooperating guide plates. The fruit receiving buckets 39 are therefore properly guided duringtheir travel from a position adjacent the sprocket wheels I4 to al position adjacent the sprocket wheels I5r with the lbuckets positioned in front of the guide plates 41 and 48, and the flanges 40, r transverse bars 31 andv sprocket chainsZIA andv 22 travelling along the rear sides of said plates."

Attached to thefront'of the and 48are flexible stem guides 6| arranged in pairs adjacent thev guide slots 59 (see Figs. 3, 4, and 14). These stem guides extend in upward directionsftoward `each other with the free ends thereof in closely spaced relation andY in alignment v'with the stem 'receiving-slots of the buckets' 39?. The 'stem'r guides 6| are curved so asto permit the passage'o'f` thebuckets 39 therebetween 1(s'ee. Fig.. 14) ,.andfunction to .guide the stems of the fruits receivedwithin the buckets into the-'stem-receivingf'slots 44 to thereby ar,- range' the fruit inv predetermined positions.

In the present construction` the transverse bars'31'v`are Veach provided with ra row of four fruit supporting 'memberse38;` however, -if desired, the machlnev mayibe provided vwith any other number of 4fru'itsupporting members than shown in thej drawings, andthe remaining structure of the machine may be correspondingly changed, asl will be obvious 4to those versed in the'art. f

Positioned in `front of the'upper frame structure 3 'aboveth'eflower'frame 2of-thefmachine is a fruit'receiving-v hop'pei" 66 movably mounted .vs'fithiny a hopper frame 561 `pivotally supported by pivot'studstf'carried on brackets 69 secured to the frame members 4 and" 5. The hopper frame 61 is of U-shaped configuration and proguide plates 41 chute-like construction and includes side walls 16 and 11 adjacent the bottom wall 14, as will be seen from Figs. 1 and 9.

The hopper frame 61 comprises further up? wardly extending portions 18 adjacent the pivot studs 68, which carry rods 19 provided with counterweigh'ts 8|. These counterweights are slidably mounted `on the rods 19 and are locked in adjustedv positionthereon by means o f set screws 82. The hopper frame 61 is further provided with `a bracket 83 xed thereto having a slot 84 into which a set screw 86 extends, which is carried by abrace 81 positioned intermediate the upper and vlower .frame structure v(see Fig. 3). The slot 84 is of such dimensions as to restrict the pivotal movement of th'e feed hopper 66 and feed hopper frame 61 within predetermined limits.

From. the above it will therefore be noted that the hopper 66 and hopper frame 61 are freely movable around the pivot studs 68 and are normally held in Itheir uppermost position by the counterweights 8|, while-the downward movement, o f the hopper 66L and frame 61 `against the action of the counterweights 8| is effectedby the y weight ofthe cherriesdeposited in the hopper-66.`

Byadjusting the position of the counterweights 8| with respect to the pivots 68, the weight of' viously referred to. Int'erposed between the guide plates 41 and 48 and the rearend of the hopper 66 are spacing bars 9| fixed to the vguide plates and spaced with respect 'to each oth'er to permit between.

Mounted on the bottornof the'hopper66 (see Fig.` 10) is a transverse bar 92 Aprovided with `a' the passage ofthe fuit receiving buckets `39 .there-r downwardly extending' pin 93 rto which-oneend vided with a'bearing 1|, atftle frontend of the same adapted to receive a pivotpinv 12 fixed in a flange 1 3 securedto ,thebottom14 at the front endof the hopper 66. The hopper'66 is of a of a coil spring 94 is secured. 'The other endof said coil spring is attached to one side of the -hopper frame 61 by means of a pin 96. Secured' to the transverse bar 92 and extending outwardly from beneath Vthev hopper framey 61 is an arm-:91 which is engaged by a knob 98.of a bell crank I0 pivotally mounted at'l02 `upon the lower frame structure 2 and provided with a downwardly ex; tending block| 03 adapted to engage cam surfaces |04 of a, vibrator cam |06.

' The vibratorcam I 06 is keyed upon the'free end of the shaft 8 and carries a crank pin |01 pivotally received within crank'bearingf' |08 of a 'pitman |09. The pitman |09 is slidably received within a universal bearing |l carried by Yaloracket ||2 securedto the hopper framev 61, andthe free end of the pitman carries co1lars||3 and I I4 threadvedly secured thereon an'dlocked in predetermined This conveyor structure Inconsists o! acon` frame' structure and including supporting brackets |42 secured to the `frame structure of the machine. Mounted i upon the `supporting brackets |42 are upper and lower `conveyor belt channels |43 and |44 comprising side walls |46: and |41, as well as bottom walls |46 and |49, re-` spectively. y Mounted within'the upper and lower conveyor channels |43 and |44 is 'an endless 'conveyorbelt' |50, 'only portions of whicnhave vbeen shown in Fig. 3, consisting of an upper and a lower run and |52. The side wall otthe upper conveyor belt channel- I adjacent the frontend of the hop-` per 66 is provided with an opening VH53 and. a discharge chute |54 which establishes communi-4 cation between the belt channel |43 and the hop.;Y per 66. l Positioned above the upper run of the conveyor belt |5| adjacent the opening |56 is a shunt valve |55 consisting of a valve plate |56 and an auxlllary valve `plate |51 secured thereto bymeans of brackets |56.- These brackets hold the auxiliary plate |51 in spaced and parallel relation with respect'to the valvev plate |56. The auxiliary valve plate |51 is shorter than the valve plate |56 (see Fig. 2). "Fixed to the plate |56 by vmeans ofa bracket |59 is a crankshaft |6| provided with a crank arm |62 carrying a pin'lat the free end thereof. This crank arm' |62 comprises a hub portion |64 having radially extending stops |66 and |61 spaced with respect to each other. Positioned intermediate the stops |66 and |61V is afstop pin In `mounted upon a vhorizontally* extending arm |69 of 'a bearing' |1| carriediby a bracket. |12 secured'to the conveyor trame |4| in any con-i venient manner. The shaft |61 is rotatably mounted within the bearing `portion |1| and the horizontally extending arm |59 of "said'bearing carries a vertical stud |19.' A coil 'spring'. |114 secured with its free ends'to the pin |65 and stud |13., respectively', is adapted to hold the crank arm |62 `in one 'or the other of. its extreme positions,

as determined by the engagement of the stops |66 arm |62 are interconnected-by means' of a link` |16 pivotally secured thereto. From the above, ltwill therefore be' seen that upon rotation oi the shaft 8 and `vibrator cam |06 in the direction as indicated by arrow |19 in Fig. 3v the cam'surfaces t04ofthe vibrator cam will be moved into' 'and out of engagementwith the block |09 and the bell crank |6| will be oscillated around its pivot |92, causing oscillation of the knob 98'in transverse directions andeifecting oscillation of the arm' 91 and hopper -56 around the pivot pin 12 against the tension'o'f spring 94. YThe rotation of 'the vibrator camlll, as above referred to, causesfurther reciprocation of the pitman |09 Within the universalbearing and depending upon the position loi the hopper 66 and hopper framei'Gl'the lug |26 or |21 Will engage the pin |26 orA |29, respectively. .When the hopper56 is empty and in its uppermost position, the lug |26wil1 engage the pin |26 upon rotation roi the vibrator cam |96 andwill-shift saidpin in a direction as indicated by arrow` |,8|, causing rota'- tiOn of Shaft |3| in the direction of arrow |92 (see Fig; 3) so that the 'shunt lvalvie |55 ,will be moved lntoichrging'- position, as shown'infliig. Y3.,*111

this position `the shuntl valve |55 extends diagonallyracross the 'upper` run ofV :the conveyor belt |5| within the conveyor'channel .|49 and= the' fruit advanced by the upper run |5,| of; the con veyor lbelt from a source ofsupply .toward4 said shunt valve will -be directed by the sam'e into the hopper. 661 through they'opening 53..- Certain cherries will be guided by the` valve 'plate v|51 yinto then-'hopper 66 while others willjbe guidedr into the` hopper by the plate |56, so that an even dis-f tributionil of the cherries 'discharged from the conveyor belt |5| into the hopper 66 is obtained. When acertain predetermined weight ofcher'. ries has `been deposited intov the hopper 66,-the

thecrank pin |01, vso that the downwardlyex.- tending lug |26 is moved out of the path of the pin` |28 and lug |21 is moved into the path of the pin |29. During `thereciprocationof the ptman |69 lug |21 engages pin |29 and shaft |3| is. thereby rotated in a direction oppositeto thatfpreviouslyv referred to. Due to the action of the` arm |16 and link |18 shunt valve v|55 is moved from its posi.

. tion until a sufficient amount of fruit. have been removedfrom the hopper so as to cause pivotal movement of the same lman upward direction under lthe influence of fthe..,counterweights 11|, whereupon `the operationof 'the shunt valve |55 repeats in the same manner as hereinabove'` de- Securedrto the-guide plates 48UandA 41below the rearend of the hopper 66.,is a bearingplate; |6| (see Fig. 4) provided with lzierfora'tions.` |92 of the sa'me size as ,openings 88.. Positioned'below the perforations of the bearing plate ISI and .the fruit receiving openings 89 of the hopper 66 are fruit 'receiving` cups |199 vforming vertical` pase sages 200 through. which the. bucketsl y39 are adapted to travel; uponoperation ofv thevsprocket chains 2| andt22 (see Fig. 4,),` Each of .these fruit receiving cups, adetail Yoffvwhich `isshown in Fig. 13, is provided with vertically extending slots 203 and .a bearing` 204 positioned therebetween. Rotatably mountedwithin thev bearings 204 of each ,cup` |99 isa.. transverse shaft. 2,06, one end ofl which extendsthrough va bearing ,2|l'ly (see Fig.- ll) `carried by. the lower frame struc-.j ture 2 vofv the machine. and is provided at itsl'fre'e end with lan arm268 iixed to said shaft by means of a set screw 209i The freeend of thearml carries a pin 2||` slidably engaged within, an elongated slot 2 |.2,of an actuating arm 2 I3 pivot,V ally mounted at2|4 tothe lower end ofgthe frame member 5 of themachine. A yoke 2|6 straddling shaft 8 and comprising a cam roller 2|1 ispivote ally secured to the arm 2|3 at 2|6. intermediate the pivoti2|4 and elongated slot2 |2 (see Eignll) The cam Aroller-:2H engages a.camway,2|9 -ofthevibrator cam .|06 (see Fig. l0). Fixedv upon the: transverse shaft 206 and..posit ionedwithin the slots 293 are control gate membersl `22| .of segmental ,coniiguration (seenr Eig., fi).A .',Up'on rotationof Ashaft 9 and oscillator camV |06, roller 2|1y travels along Ythe. camway yZlyand., movement yof the control gates', 22| fintov` and ,out

of the vertical passages of the fruit: receiving cups |99. The conguration of the camway-2|9e is such that the control gates 22| are retracted have passed the' same. f

It will therefore be seen that after the cherries have been discharged into the'hopper (i6-and` While the same is oscillated in transverse "idirecz-j tions the' cherries deposited therein 'slide toward the fruit receiving'openings 89 and 'drop oneff'at a timey into each of the fruit 'receiving cups |99V and upon'the control gates 22|fb1ockingthe-pas sage 200 within the same. The fruitreceiving: openings 89 and fruit receiving cups |99 are'ofl such size as to receive on'e cherry at a time; withL' out damaging the same during the vibration of the chute. f 'I While the buckets 39 travel in an upward 'direction and pass through the passages 200 of'l the" fruit` receiving cups |99 the `fruit "positioned therein is received withinthe buckets 39 andis elevated thereby.V If the cherries received withl in the buckets 39 are joined with their stems :to the stems of other cherries and form clustersff fruit therewith, the entire cluster 'is elevated with; the cherries not positioned within the buckets 39 hanging in a downward direction,"'as yillustrated in Figs. Sand 4.

While the buckets 39r pass the stem guides' (5| the stems of the cherries received within' thebucketsare engaged by vsaid guides andl shifted along the inclined surfaces 45 of the buckets into the stemVreceil/ing recesses v44' thereof, sov that' the cherries are properly positioned 'thereby. In this manner thevcherries are elevated from the hopper 66 and advanced past a decluster mechanism 222, now to be described. f

This declustermechanism'22'2 consists of 'bell crankv223 and arm 224 pivotally mounted by means of stud vshafts 226 upon the horizontal frame structures 6 and 'lof the machine. One arm portion of the bell crank 223 carries a'rovller 221 which extends into the cam track 228 ofv a rotary cam 229 fixed to the shaft' 9 Vpreviously re`- ferred to by meansrof a set screw23 l. The other end of the bell crank 223 and the vfree endofarm 224 extend in downward directions and carry a decluster bar232 transverse-1y positioned with respect to the same. `I f This decluster bar 232 is of U-shaped configuration, as will be best seen from Figsf3, 4, and 8, and includes parallel flanges 233 and 234 provided with openings within'which fruit en"-A gaging fingers 235 are slidably received. vThese fingers are provided with collars 236 adjacent the anger234, and coil springs 231finterpo'sed between the ange 233 and collars 236 lare adapted to maintainsthe fruit engaging fingers 235"in outwardly projected or operative positions;v "The fingers 235 are spaced with respect to each other but arein lsufliciently close 'relationship toA prevent the passage of a cherry therebetween. SecuredV to the decluster bar 232 are depending arms 238 vprovided at their free ends 'withstrikef ofi'A wires 239 extending at right angles tothe same and parallel to the guide plates 41 and 43. Normallyfthe decluster mechanism- 222 is in a position as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, withthe vfruit engagingngers 235'and strike-01T wires 239 adjl jacent the guide plates 41 and 48. Upon rotation of lshaft 8 and travel of the sprocket chainsv 2| and 22 in the direction of the arrow 36, as shown invlig:` 4, -theseries "fff fruit receiving buckets fare successivelymoved: past thef strike-off wires 239 and the fruitfengagirig'lingers .235. -When the seriesof buckets designated 24|- are adjacent the strike-off. wires' 239,; as shown. in'full-lines in Fig. 7,fcam 229,; cam trackff228 v.and roller 221 effect apivo'tal.Y movementof the :bell crank lever-.223 andarmz224--aroundtheirpivots226-so asv to move the strike-01T wires 239 out of the 'path of the baskets 24| 'fromr thefullj line to thedotted line; positionA in Fig; 7 r:When jonlyva, single cherry is elevated byeach bucket and hasbeen properly received 'withinthe dished-portion thereof, no operation-is performed'by thefstrike-oif'wires 239 upon' the' fruit.,l `lC-loweverfif two or-.rnore cherries are' engagedgandelevated :by one or more of the buckets'24l the.i strike-offcwires 239, engage and remove the additional fruit-from the. respective buckets and discharge the same back into" the hopper 6B.- This'assures thatgonly a single cherry is'received Within' 'each bucket-,and elevated by thesame.- M' x y y' Upon. further upwardmovement of the buckets 24| 'the'r declustering mechanism 222-iis returned to its operativeuor fullflinev position irl-Fig. '7,' and as the next seriesof buckets approaches the strikeoff wires 239`the.declustering-mechanism is again actuated and moved from its full to itsdotted line position inFig'lf'so that any additional cherries elevated by said series-of -buckets are discharged in the same l'mannerl as described vin vthe above inl regard to-rth'e :seriesof buckets-24l.

' At this time the-series of buckets 24 I-'has passed' stems ofthe cherries'243 which areljoined with the stems o`f thel cherries 24'4 yreceived -withinv the series of buckets 24|. vI-have discovered'that clustered cherries are'most' easily separated by pulling the joinedsterns in opposite-directions-thereby tensely` vstretchingzthe stems relativ'e yto' eachother until they are tornv away from 'each other'at their weakest point, thatI is, thepoint of union oftheir stems. In utilizingl'tlie physical characteristics of clustered cherries inthismanner there isa positive assurance of'r the-stems always .separating at the pointv of union and not atthepoint, of con-v nection of the stems with-the cherries because as will be noted in thefdrawingsFig; 4 the force `is substantially directly raligned ,with the point of connection of 'the stems with .their respective cherries, whereasthe-forc'e exertedupon the point of union of thestemsi's 'lateral -relativefthereto. While the-buckets 24| continue their upward travel the cherriesl243 engage' the-fingers 235'and are held f against further upward travel thereby so that vthe stemsl of the cherries 243b`ecome taut and eventually,v are tornfrom the stems'fof' the cherries 244held in the buckets 24| at their point of union. 'The `cherries 243-dropvback into the hopper 66 when the declust'er mechanism subsequently movesy to inoperativeposition, While the cherries i244 are conveyediy toward the-sprocket wheels I0 and discharged from the buckets at this point. Inthisway `the operation'of the-rhachine continues with yrespect 4-to each series.: of buckets in the'same manner as abovedescribed. The'operation offthe decluster mechanism 222 is timedin such a manner that the lfruit engaging fingers 235,; move inwardly toward the guide' plates 48"and L'4,1 imim'edi'a'tely-x after the buckets have passed thengersf235', so thatthe-latterlwill stra-d# havep'assed the same. l

buckets are removed; Thereupon the 'cherries are advanced past thelstemg'uides which po- `sitionA thegcherries in apredetermined mannerwithin the cups, and finally past the fruit engaging fingers 235 ofthe ldeclustering mecha- `nism '222. The declustering mechanism '222,

which' also carries vthestrike-oilwires 239, is

operated in timed relation Vwithy respect tothe travel l'of v-thebuckets 35i 'byimeans of camway 228 fof the cam 229,' roller'f22'l and bell crank 223, so that the strike-off wiresj239f and engaging fingers 235 are moved into inoperative position `when the buckets -g'39-travel"past`the same and intooperative position' as Isoon as the buckets If ythe 'fruit received' within rthe cups 39 are singleY lcherries',y with stems,l nooperations are performedfupon the same by the 'fruit engaging iinge'rsl 235, YHowever, ifY Jthese'cherries are joined with their stems tdi-the* stems ofy other cherriesand form clusterswith theV same, the

entire cluster'oi cherries is Ielevated with the fruit not received within 'the -buckets 39 hanging downwardly below the same. yIn this'way the cherriesheld within the buckets 39"and the re-' .maining fruit of la cluster areispread'apart so thatv lthe' yfruit' l'engagingnngers 235 -may enter into the vspace therebetween.' l'While' the single cherries yof a vcluster of vfruit'are 'held in this manner "and are advancedv past the declustering mechanism 222, the yfruit 'engaging fingers move into 'operative position `and 4straddle 'the'st'ems' of the 4doumwardly hanging "cherriesA which finally during` their" further upward travel' engage the 'fingers' 235 and are held thereby against further 'movement' withl the buckets '39; so )that `their stems aretautened "and ultimately torn advanced" toward 'the openings 39 'therein4 and subjected to another declusteringoperation until all'c'h'erries of aclus'terofwfruit are sep-` arated into single cherries. A 4 Y c If desired, the' machine of the present invention"may be used for ifeeding decluste r 'ed orw stemmed cherries toy a cherry pitting machine or the like. In such case the declustering mech-l,

anism maybe preferably. omittedso Athat the cherries are fedfromthe supply Yhopper 66. to the pitting machine by means of the conveyor.

mechanism comprisingy chains/2| and 22 and supi porting umembers 38, whereby excess cherries carriedby the fruit holding; members-.38 but not received within the pockets4 43thereof are discharged therefrom, into the return chute 253,

during the travel of the, cups. 3,9 in substantially.'

verticalpositions past the same.,4 This return chute delivers the cherriesdischarged fromthe `:fruit holding means backinto thesupply hopper 66 in the same manneras .previously stated herein..l...,;. I f

While I have yshcownand described a preferred `apparatus anda preferred method for carryingl out my inventiornit .will be understood that both arecapable ofivariation and modification, while,

of a cluster 'I of 'l :fruit stillemploying the fprin'ciple of my invention. It-isfto be understood, therefore, *thatr the scope of-the inventionl should be limited only by the scope and proper linterpretation of the claims appended thereto.

:rHgving thus described' my-invention and in whatfvmanner the samevmay be' used, whatv I claimas lnew and'desire to protect by Letters Patent'is:1 f

'l'. A machine for-separating cherries joined by their stems in a cluster", comprising means for moving a' single cherry of said 'cluster in` a predetermined path to cause theremaining 'cherries of the cluster to trail along, fruit engaging means associated with the moving means, means for moving the engaging means into the space between said single cherry and the remaining cherries, to engage the latter wherebyto substantially align'the stems ofthe remaining cherries with the vstem o f the single cherry'and to` separate saidstems at their point of union.

- 2, A machine for separating cherries joined by their stems in ay cluster comprising a movable support for carrying one cherry of said cluster andl pendently supporting-the other cherries Yoi? said clustenand av cherry engaging yoke movably mounted adjacent the movablesupport for engaging another Acherry-oi? said Cluster and for opposing movement of the samein the direction of said iirst-mentioned cherry to tauten the stems of said cherries into substantial alignment with respecttoeach other and toA separate the stems of said cherries at their point of union.

3,'Amachine for declustering V'cherries joined by their stems comprising a conveyor provided withfruit holding means, fruit engaging means cooperating with said holding means, means for operating said conveyor for engaging a single fruit o'f a cluster'and for moving `the same and the remaining fruit of said cluster lin one direction, and means for operating the fruit engaging means A`forlengaging the remainingl fruit of the cluster lfor varresting the movement thereof whereby the stem of the same is separated from the-stem of the single vfruit.

4. Amachine for rdeclustering cherries joined by their stems comprisingv a conveyor provided with fruit holding means, means for delivering the cherries to said conveyor, fruit engaging means cooperating with said fruit holding means, means for. operating said conveyor for vpositioning a sing-le cherry of a cluster within said holding meansand for movingsaid single cherry and the remaining cherries of the cluster joined therewith in one direction, and meansv for operating the fruit engaging means for restrainingA the movement of the remaining cherries for parting the stems thereof from the stem ofy said single cherry.c y l Y 5LA1maehine for declustering cherries joined by their stems comprising a conveyorprovided with friitholdi'ng meansfimeans for delivering the cherries to said conveyor, fruit engaging means cooperating with said yfruit holding means, means forv operating said` conveyor for positioningasingle cherry of a cluster within said holdingmeans and for moving said single cherry and they lremaining cherries of the cluster joined therewith in one direction, means for controlling engagingk means for restrainingl the movement of theyremaining cherries for parting the stems thereof from the stem ofv said single cherry.

,1 A. machine for declusteringcherries joinedY g evo ofo'ooor- 'ooooo'ood thor'onnom, moors. sorooolm?.

@i915 m ons, forglwooig ofsgloffoit ofy of Cluster Suppl? ivoono spended therefrm, and means `coopergaging the remaining fruit for restraining the movement thereof in said direction whereby the stem of the remaining fruit is separated from` the stem-of the single fruit. k

18. A cherry declusteringmachine comprising a conveyor having fruit holding means, means for supplyingA fruit to 'said conveyor, control` means associated with said conveyormeans for operating said controlv means and conveyor in timed relation with respect to ,each other for admitting a single fruit of a` cluster of cherries into the vholding meansvLand for moving said single fruit in one direction with the remaining fruitof the cluster suspended therefrom, and means en-` gageable with the remaining fruit for restraining the movement thereof in said direction to thereby separate the stem of the single fruit from the stern of`r the remaining' fruit.

19.'A v"machine lfor separating cherries 'joined by their stems in' a cluster comprising means 4for1 moving said cluster in one direction' With a single` fruit of the cluster spaced from the remaining fruit, and a plurality of closely spaced fingers movable into the path of the'remaining fruit for straddling the stem thereof andfor restraining the movement of the remaining fruit insaid di-` rection whereby the stem of the single fruit'is separated from the stem of the remaining fruit.

20. A'machine for separating cherries joined by their stems in a cluster comprising conveying means for moving the'v cluster of cherries in` one direction with a single fruit of said cluster spaced from theremaining fruit thereof,means for feeding the cluster of fruit vto said conveying means, means for controlling the admissionfof said single fruit to said conveying means, and al plurality of closelir spaced fingers .movable into` the path of the remaining fruit and straddling the stem thereof for arresting the movement, of 1 said remaining fruit to thereby separate the lstem ofthe same from the stem of the single fruit.

l21. In a machine for declusteringcherries, Va pivotally mounted feed j hopper declusteringv means for removing cherries from the feed hopper, supply means for delivering the cherries totv said feed hopper,`and meansa'ssociated with the feed hopper and supply means for controlling the delivery of the cherries fror'njthe supply means to'said hopper in response to the pivotal move` ment of the latter under the influence of the r weight of the cherries therein asdetermined by the removal of cherries from saidhopper by ac,- tion ofthe declustering means.v y r 22,. In a lmachine ordeclustering cherries, a

weighing hopper, a conveyor for removing cherries from the weighing hopper, sup-ply means for delivering cherries to the weighing hopper, and` control means for regulating the admission of the cherries to the Weighingv hopper in correspondence with the weighing 'operation of the same as affected by the removal of 'cherries therefromI by the conveyor.

23. In a. machine for declustering cherries, a

pivotally mountedweight operated feed hopper means associatedyvith the feed hopperl for' declustering the cherries therein and for removing i cherries therefrom, supply means for' delivering the cherries to said feed hopper, and a control valve associated with the supply means `and operatively connected to the feed hopper and kthe means for removing cherries therefrom for controlling delivery of the cherries to the feed 'hopper.

machines comprisinga pivotally mounted feed 24A feed mechanism `for cherry declustering hopper, a conveyor adjacent the same, a vcontrol valve associated with the conveyor for discharging fruit therefrom into the hopper, control means associated with the control valve,I actuating means on said hopper selectively engageable with the :control means, and means for operatingr the actuating means for effecting opening and closing of the control valve.

' 25. A cherrydeclustering machine comprising a -conveyor having fruit holding ymeans provided with aninclined fruit receiving surface, means for supplying clusters'of ycherries to said conveyor, means 'interposed between the supply means' and conveyor for controlling the admission of the cherries into the holding means,

means for operating the conveyor for moving the fruit holding means 'past said control means for receiving a single cherry'of a cluster and for removing the same from the supply means with the remaining cherries of thev cluster suspendedv therefrom, means cooperating with the inclined surface of the fruit receiving means for arrang- ,ing the stems of the cherries of saidcluster in predeterminedposition with respect tothe fruit holding means, and means :cooperating withv the fruit holding means for separating' the stem of thel single cherryr supported thereby from th'e' stems of the remainig cherries.

to the supply hopper.

-"27.' A machine for declustering cherries joined' bytheir' stems, vcomprising a support for engag-'y ing one of the cherries, a conveyor associated with said support for moving the latter along'a predetermined path with the remaining cherries trailing the cherry engaged by the support, and" means intermittently movable toward and away from said conveyor for obstructing movement of said remaining cherries whereby the stemsof the latter are torn from that of the cherry engaged by the support at their point of union.

. 28. A 4machine for separating 'cherries joined by their stems, comprising a conveyor having means for supporting a sing1e`=cherry for moving' the latter along a predetermined pathwith the remaining cherries of said cluster pendently supported therefrom, and means straddlingthestemV of the remaining .fruit and engageable with thel latter for restraining movement thereof along' said predetermined path whereby 'to break the point of union of the stem of the'remaining 'cherries with the single cherry toy permit continued movement thereof along said path.

29. A machine for separating clusters of cherries comprising fruit engaging means, a fruit holder for holding one of the cherries` of the.v cluster and for moving the cluster of cherries pastv said engaging means, and means for moving the engaging means into the path` of the remaining cherries of said cluster after said one of the lcherries has passed the engaging meansand forv obstructing movement of the remaining cherries of said cluster whereby tov separate the stem of lthecherry 4held by the holdingmeans from the;

stems of the remaining cherries engaged-by the engaging means at their point of union.

30- A machine for feeding cherries comprising."

a supply hopper, a conveyor having fruit holding means provided with fruit receiving pockets, means mounting said conveyor for travel substantially vertically through said hopper with each fruit receiving pocket openside up and for subsequent travel substantially horizontally with' each fruit receiving pocket open side substantially vertical, means for operating said conveyor for moving the fruit holding means through a mass of cherries in said hopper to receive and 10 remove cherries therefrom and for subsequentlyv moving said fruit holding means substantially horizontally whereby cherries removed from the hopper by the fruit` holding means |but not received within the pockets thereof are discharged therefrom.

341. A machine for feeding fruit comprising a supply chute having an outlet opening at its lower end through which one fruit at a time can pass, a conveyor having fruit receiving means movable through said opening for receiving and removing the fruit therefrom, means associated with said chute. and conveyor for normally supporting a single fruit in said opening, and means for withdrawing said supporting means from fruit supporting position as said fruit receiving means moves through said opening.`

BURTON C. COONS. 

